Mon, Nov 28, 2011
Proposals to strengthen conservation
of endangered land and sea animals that
cross international borders were considered
and approved at a major United Nations conference
on conservation.
Priority Given to Ecological
Networks, Climate Change Mitigation and
Reduced Incidental Mortality
Bergen (Norway) / Bonn,
28 November 2011 - Efforts to conserve seven
migratory species, from the Giant Manta
Ray to the Saker Falcon, have been strengthened
following a major United Nations conference
on conservation.
Convention on Migratory
Species (CMS)More than 80 governments met
from 20 - 25 November in Bergen, Norway,
for the tenth Conference of the Parties
to the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP)
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
Proposals to strengthen
conservation of endangered land and sea
animals that cross international borders
were considered and approved.
Migratory species threatened
with extinction are listed on Appendix I
of CMS, while species that need or would
significantly benefit from international
co-operation are listed in Appendix II.
Inclusion in the appendices grants greater
protection to vulnerable species, such as
conserving damaged habitats or mitigating
obstacles to migration.
The Giant Manta Ray
was listed in both Appendices of the Convention,
which grants its full protection.
From 200 to 2007, global
catch of devil rays including mantas reported
to the United Nations Food and Agricultural
Organization more than tripled from 900
to 3,3000 tonnes. The listing signals the
need for better fisheries management and
a relief from hunting pressure. The Bobolink,
a South American grassland bird, and the
Argali sheep of the Central Asian highlands,
both in need of reduced hunting, were added
to Appendix II.
The theme of the conference,
'Networking for Migratory Species', was
given prominence at the launch of a CMS
report on ecological networks connected
by migration corridors to ensure long-term
survival of migratory wildlife.
There was general consensus
at the conference to initiate or implement
actions to mitigate the most serious threats
to migratory species and obstacles to animal
migration, in particular relating to wind
turbines, power lines, bycatch, climate
change, wildlife disease and illegal hunting.
Governments also adopted
resolutions to address threats to marine
species such as noise pollution and sonar
from vessels especially in areas home to
whales, dolphins, sea birds and sea turtles.
They voiced concern on marine debris, in
particular plastic waste, and called for
improved waste management. Countries also
agreed on measures to reduce bycatch in
gillnets by using sustainable fishing gear
and seasonal or area fishing bans in addition
to visual or acoustic alerts to deter marine
species from fishing nets.
In light of tens of
millions of large birds being killed annually
as a result of electrocution or collision
with power lines, guidelines on how to minimize
the impact of electricity power grids on
migratory birds in the African-Eurasian
region were adopted.
CMS received a stronger
mandate to expand its work as more countries
signed the agreements on the Aquatic Warbler,
Migratory Birds of Prey, Dugongs and Migratory
Sharks.
CMS received financial
support of US$ 4million from the United
Arab Emirates to support further conservation
work on raptors and dugongs. Germany offered
funds to protect sharks and gorillas. Norway
announced support of the Lesser White-fronted
Goose, Cross River Gorillas in Central Africa
and ecological networks for migratory species
in Africa.
The United States of
America announced funding in order to take
next steps towards protecting migratory
sharks in 2012. UNEP will strengthen capacity
building and training programmes in the
regions.
Commenting on the final
outcomes of the Conference, Elizabeth Maruma
Mrema, CMS Executive Secretary, said: "Migratory
species are in particular need of international
collaboration to help reduce detrimental
effects of unsustainable use, habitat loss
and emerging threats resulting from climate
change and barriers to migration during
their journeys across oceans and continents."
"As we continue
to face a serious financial crisis, we must
stretch our resources further to be able
to protect the nomads of the Earth",
she added.
During the conference,
Norway announced it would withdraw reservations
concerning the inclusion of several marine
species under CMS.
"I am pleased to
announce that Norway has decided to repeal
the reservations of all species of whales
and sharks on CMS List II and the Great
White shark on CMS List I," said Heidi
Sørensen, State Secretary from the
Norwegian Ministry of the Environment.
These include several different species
of cetaceans (mammals such as whales, dolphins
and porpoises), including the white-beaked
dolphin, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, killer
whale, Narwhal, Pygmy right whale, Antarctic
minke whale, Bryde's whale, Fin whale, Sei
whale, Sperm whale, Great white shark and
Basking Shark.
"All these species
will benefit from international collaboration
for their management and conservation. We
already cooperate with other countries on
small cetaceans, for instance when it comes
to bycatch in fisheries, added Ms. Sørensen.
New Additions to CMS
Appendix I and II:
The Argali, including
its nine subspecies, have been listed on
Appendix II of CMS. The argali is a wild
sheep, occurring in the highlands of Central
Asia. The primary threat to the Argali is
poaching, followed by habitat loss through
overgrazing and displacement by domestic
livestock. The Karatau argali and the Northern
Chinese argali, two of the nine subspecies,
are listed as Critically Endangered on the
IUCN Red List.
The Giant Manta Ray
is the largest of its kind, reaching up
to more than 7 metres in width and weighing
up to 1400 kg. The species is threatened
by direct or indirect fishing pressure.
The main threat is bycatch, but there is
also an increase in fishing at a global
level. In addition, increasing coastal development
and human settlements threaten the habitat
of this marine species.
The Red-footed Falcon,
already listed on Appendix II, has been
included in Appendix I. The species is threatened
by illegal hunting and disturbance, causing
direct mortality, nest abandonment and reduced
breeding success. Loss and degradation of
habitats, pesticide use, wind farms and
the negative effects of climate change add
to the dangers facing the species.
Prized as hunting companions
by royalty and the aristocracy, the Saker
Falcon has suffered an almost 70 per cent
decline since 11000. The increasing demand
for falcons led to a massive decline of
the species of up to 90 per cent. Collection
of birds from the wild, as well as hunting,
habitat loss, electrocution and poisoning
pose a severe threat to the species. Threatened
with extinction, it was granted listing
on Appendix I.
The Far Eastern Curlew,
listed on CMS Appendix II, also received
Appendix I listing, is the largest wader
in the world. The species has suffered a
drastic population decline of almost 50
per cent. Habitat loss, in particular wetland
degradation of the Yellow Sea, is the primary
threat to these long-distance migratory
shorebirds. Increased legal protection and
law enforcement would assist in improving
the conservation status of the species.
The Bristle-thighed
Curlew, which is currently listed on CMS
Appendix II, has been granted full protection
by being added on Appendix I too. The introduction
of mammalian predators such as rats, cats
and dogs on the wintering grounds in Pacific
Ocean islands caused a sharp decline in
populations. Bristle-thighed Curlews are
particularly threatened by predators during
the autumn moulting period, when more than
50 per cent of adults are incapable of flight.
Habitat loss and degradation of the wintering
grounds pose an additional threat.
The Bobolink, which
travels up to 20,000 km, performs one of
the largest annual migrations of a grassland
bird in the Western Hemisphere. The global
population of this migrant has been declining
since the 1960s. Threats include hunting,
intensive agriculture as well as habitat
loss within the breeding and wintering sites.
The Bobolink is currently not protected
by any international instrument. Appendix
II listing recommends habitat conservation,
reduced hunting, improved management practices
and awareness raising.
Notes to Editors
The Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild
Animals (UNEP/CMS) works for the conservation
of a wide array of endangered migratory
animals worldwide through the negotiation
and implementation of agreements and action
plans. CMS is a growing convention with
special importance due to its expertise
in the field of migratory species. At present,
116 countries are parties to the Convention.
+ More
Get Gold from your Phone
with the Green Up! Campaign
Mon, Nov 28, 2011
The Green Up! Campaign from the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) is encouraging
people across Europe to use their old mobile
phones to promote sustainable development.
Geneva, 25 November
2011 - In today's fast-paced world, it's
hard to imagine life without a mobile phone.
Green Up! on FacebookNow
the Green Up! Campaign from the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) is encouraging
people across Europe to use their old mobile
phones to promote sustainable development.
Recent UNEP studies
have shown that the failure to recycle many
metals - many of which are present in mobile
phones - not only causes wasted resources
and environmental damage, it threatens shortages
of elements essential to modern technologies.
UNEP's latest Resource
Panel report 'Recycling Rates of Metals:
A Status Report', stated that less than
one-third of some 60 metals have an end-of-life
recycling rate above 50 per cent, and that
34 elements have a recycling rate below
1 per cent.
Many of these metals
are crucial to clean technologies, such
as batteries for hybrid cars or magnets
in wind turbines. Some of the metals found
in mobile phones like gold, silver and tantalum
are precious; while others like cadmium
and lead are toxic. Recovering these metals
lessens the demand for mining new ore and
helps protect sensitive natural habitats
and communities from the pollution that
often results from mining or improper disposal.
The UNEP report says
that "in spite of significant efforts
in a number of countries and regions, many
metal recycling rates are discouragingly
low, and a 'recycling society' appears no
more than a distant hope."
Throughout November,
GreenUp! is encouraging Europeans to make
this distant hope a reality by taking their
old mobile phones for recycling.
GreenUp's website pinpoints
recycling centres on a Google map, which
we hope that - with your help ? can become
a comprehensive map of all European mobile
phone recycling centres.
This latest 'action'
from the Green Up! Campaign draws attention
to the Waste sector of UNEP's Green Economy
report, which outlines pathways for a transition
towards low carbon, resource efficient sustainable
development. The final version of the UNEP
Green Economy Report was launched earlier
this month.
Notes to Editors
GreenUp! is a new UNEP
initiative, launched from Brussels in October
2011. It is designed to bring the concept
of the Green Economy closer to European
citizens by linking each of the economic
sectors essential to 'green' the global
economy to a citizens' action and initiative,
suggested each month at the collaborative
web platform www.greenup-unep.org.
The action for November
deals with the Waste sector.
This GreenUp citizen
action coincides with European Week for
Waste Reduction, a project funded by the
European Commission. The week runs from
21-27 November 2011. www.ewwr.eu
